Statue of Saint Luigi Scrosoppi, patron saint of footballers, to be unveiled on December 5th
The unveiling of a life-size statue of Saint Luigi Scrosoppi, the patron saint of footballers, is scheduled to take place on December 5th at the Church of San Valentino, near the Olympic Stadium in Rome. The ceremony will be presided over by His Excellency Archbishop Rino Fisichella, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization – who has had overall responsibility for the 2025 Jubilee.
The statue was donated by the Board of Directors of the Luigi1884 e.V. Foundation from Austria, which promoted the initiative for charitable purposes. Dr Erhard Lausegger and the project's creator, Manfred Pesek, will be present. The statue was created by a company from South Tyrol - Ferdinand Stuflesser 1875 OHG - a historic papal supplier.
The ceremony will also be attended by Sister Sandra del Bel Belluz, Superior General of the Sisters of Providence, a congregation founded by Saint Luigi Scrosoppi and now engaged in educational and social activities for children and youth in need in several countries.
The initiative aims to draw attention to values promoted by the world of sports: commitment, team spirit, loyalty, solidarity, and mutual respect. The Luigi1884 e.V. Foundation supports education, sports promotion, and social inclusion projects internationally. The inauguration will highlight the role of sport as a tool for dialogue and community building.
